(CNN) - Two days before Sarah Palin steps down from office, a new national poll indicates that a majority of Americans have an unfavorable view of the outgoing Alaska governor. But the ABC News/Washington Post survey released Friday also suggests that seven out of 10 Republican voters maintain a positive opinion of last year's GOP Vice Presidential nominee.

Fifty-three percent of those questioned in the poll view Palin negatively, with four in 10 holding a positive view of her. The survey is the second this week, following a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll released Thursday, to find more than half of all Americans viewing Palin in an unfavorable light.

The ABC News/Washington Post survey suggests that there is doubt about Palin's leadership skills and her understanding of intricate issues. Fifty-seven percent say they don't think Palin understands complex issues, and 54 percent do not feel she is a strong leader. The poll finds that Americans are split on whether Palin shares their values and understands the problems most people face. A slim majority of people questioned in the poll say Palin is honest and trustworthy, with four in 10 disagreeing.

Palin is set to resign Sunday as Alaska governor, with a year and a half remaining in her term, and hand over power to Lt. Governor Sean Parnell, a fellow Republican. Palin says she intends to campaign across the country for candidates whose ideas she supports, raising speculation that Palin may make a bid for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.

Seventy percent of Republicans questioned view Palin favorably, with just one in four holding a negative opinion. The favorable view drops to 51 percent among independent voters and to 20 percent among Democrats.

In a hypothetical race for the next GOP presidential nomination, the poll suggests 19 percent of Republican voters would back Palin, with one in four supporting former Arkansas governor and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and 21 percent backing former Massachusetts governor and 2008 White House hopeful Mitt Romney.

The ABC News/Washington Post poll was conducted July 15-18, with 1,001 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for all Americans, and plus or minus 5 percentage points for the question on the Republican presidential nomination.

The preception that Sarah doesn't understanthinking complicated is issues is one that the Dems work hard to keep alive. They seem to ignore members of their own party who really do lack comprehension skills!

July 24, 2009 11:38 am at 11:38 am |

Randi

Finally, a little reality check here.

70% of republicans view her favorably – that's 70% of 21% of the country. That makes her virtually unelectable.

July 24, 2009 11:38 am at 11:38 am |

Dinah

The more she talks the more her poll numbers will drop. By 2012 she will be in the negative rating.

July 24, 2009 11:39 am at 11:39 am |

bill

It just goes to show that the nation as a whole has Ms. Palin's real character and ideals down pat as being negative and looney.

It also shows that the republicans would vote for Osama bin laden if he were to come out on a pro-life and anti-gay platform.

As as the late Walter Chronkite would say, "that's the way it is".

July 24, 2009 11:40 am at 11:40 am |

Ursula

Sounds like people are seeing the light. I don't know how anyone could approve of a nimrod.

July 24, 2009 11:40 am at 11:40 am |

George Washington

you pollsters are funny. is this the same ones that gave obama 95% percent approval rating, and now are at 60% ? you should be spending your news time doing something constructive rather than these stupid polls

July 24, 2009 11:40 am at 11:40 am |

Jeffer65

Why should we care? More stupid polls about someone who won't even be in her office much longer.

July 24, 2009 11:40 am at 11:40 am |

Odai

Maybe they need two categories: Those who support her policies, and those who support her based on looks. Guess which one will be more popular😉

July 24, 2009 11:41 am at 11:41 am |

Sally

She should stay low right now. She doesn't show a strong leadership for her party!

July 24, 2009 11:41 am at 11:41 am |

Mary Renter

Sarah Palin is fantastic – she is a conservative and is trying to save this country from the Obama/Pelosi/Kennedy liberals, who border on socialism – there are millions of Americans who support her and we will continue to hope she remains a leader in the GOP party.

July 24, 2009 11:42 am at 11:42 am |

danny

Well that is the Liberal view from the Liberal news and rag what did you expect silly.

July 24, 2009 11:42 am at 11:42 am |

Steve (the real one)

No surprise here! She was hammered in the media and th eleft hated her conseravtive views anyway! The quitting episode didn't her but Rattner also quit and just because he was not elected, he is still quitter, right libs?

July 24, 2009 11:43 am at 11:43 am |

Huge fan

Hard to believe Republicans still view her favorably. I hope she somehow just fades off into the sunset; her 15 seconds was over months ago. Sorry ditto-heads but your girl Sarah is a world class nut with little to no real skills.

July 24, 2009 11:44 am at 11:44 am |

Paul

I am not sure why media is making a big deal out of SArah Palin. She is a big joke! Fortutously, she stumbled on the governor position. Within a year or two, drew the attention of another Psycho that resulted a V.P candidacy. This fortune alone is not enough to be the leader of the country but leadership qualities are essential which she completely lacks. Media projection is a probaganda for her to make more and more non-sense.

July 24, 2009 11:45 am at 11:45 am |

Jerry American

Another old hat story trying to divert attention from obamas failure. Thanks cnn

July 24, 2009 11:45 am at 11:45 am |

steve

...and now, onto a diplomatic tour of the country of africa!

July 24, 2009 11:45 am at 11:45 am |

Lew

Look who took the poll.......nuff said.....

July 24, 2009 11:45 am at 11:45 am |

LA Man

Let's get to the Truth:

Research will always find what it intends to find. That is, if you know the bias of the investigator to begin with, you already know the results.

....and so it is with this latest Sarah Palin poll.

We KNOW the bias against her.

July 24, 2009 11:46 am at 11:46 am |

cb in Austin

She'll land on her feet, especially if she moves to the private sector. She has charisma, something Bobby Jindal lacks.

July 24, 2009 11:46 am at 11:46 am |

carlo

For once, there's a majority you can count me in on.

July 24, 2009 11:47 am at 11:47 am |

Hugo

Here is another poll result, Over 50% disapprove of our Usurper in Chief!

July 24, 2009 11:47 am at 11:47 am |

RahmAxleRod SuperTroopers

CNN or another major news network will hire palin for howard stern like money... immediatly jumping to #1 in ratings... you heard it here...